Japan's 18-year-old Prince Hisahito says he'll balance royal duties and university studies

TOKYO (AP) — Japan's Prince Hisahito, the second in line to the throne, held a debut news conference Monday, telling reporters he would try to balance official duties and his university studies and research about the dragonfly.

Hisahito turned 18 last September, becoming the first male royal family member to reach adulthood in almost four decades in Japan. It was a significant development for a family that has ruled for more than a millennium but faces the same existential problems as the rest of the nation — a fast-aging, shrinking population.

The prince said he would follow the good examples of his uncle, Emperor Naruhito, and other elder members of the imperial family, while pursuing his university studies, beginning next month.

Speaking to reporters at the Akasaka Estate residence in Tokyo, Hisahito said he believes the role of the emperor as a symbolic figure is someone who “always thinks of the people and stays close to them.”

Hisahito is second in line to Japan's Chrysanthemum Throne after his father, Crown Prince Akishino.

The prince, who turned 18 on Sept. 6, is the youngest of the 16-member imperial family and one of only five men, including former Emperor Akihito.

The 1947 Imperial House Law only allows a male to succeed to the throne. Female royal members who marry commoners lose their royal status.

Hisahito's older cousin, Princess Aiko — the only child of Naruhito and his wife Masako — is seen as the public’s favorite, though the law for now bars her from becoming an empress, despite being in a direct line of descent.

Japan's conservative government wants to keep the royal succession male-only, though it is looking for a way to allow women to keep royal status if they marry commoners.

Hisahito plans to study biology at the Tsukuba University near Tokyo, starting in April. He hopes to focus his studies on dragonflies.

Apart from researching dragonflies and other insects, Hisahito told reporters he is also interested in studying ways to protect insect populations in urban areas. His other interests lie in growing tomatoes and rice on the palace compound.

Because Japanese royals have to stay away from politics, members of the Imperial Family tend to study biology, literature and arts. Naruhito's specialty is water transport while his father, Emperor Emeritus Akihito who abdicated in 2019, researches fish. Hisahito's father, Crown Prince Akishino, is an expert of chickens.

Japan will hold a coming-of-age palace ceremony for Hisahito on Sept. 6, his 19th birthday.

Japanese Emperor Naruhito, third right, accompanied by Empress Masako, second right, their daughter Princess Aiko, right, Crown Prince Akishino, Crown Princess Kiko, second left, and Princess Kako, waves to well-wishers from the balcony of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on the emperor's 65th birthday, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)

In this photo provided by the Imperial Household Agency of Japan, Japan's Prince Hisahito speaks at his first press conference at the Imperial Palace Monday, March 3, 2025, in Tokyo. (Imperial Household Agency of Japan via AP)

In this photo provided by the Imperial Household Agency of Japan, Japan's Prince Hisahito speaks at his first press conference at the Imperial Palace Monday, March 3, 2025, in Tokyo. (Imperial Household Agency of Japan via AP)

Japanese Emperor Naruhito, third right, accompanied by Empress Masako, second right, their daughter Princess Aiko, right, Crown Prince Akishino, third left, Crown Princess Kiko, second left, and Princess Kako, left, waves to well-wishers from the balcony of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on the emperor's 65th birthday, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)

In this photo provided by the Imperial Household Agency of Japan, Japan's Prince Hisahito speaks at his first press conference at the Imperial Palace Monday, March 3, 2025, in Tokyo. (Imperial Household Agency of Japan via AP)

In this photo provided by the Imperial Household Agency of Japan, Japan's Prince Hisahito attends his first press conference at the Imperial Palace Monday, March 3, 2025, in Tokyo. (Imperial Household Agency of Japan via AP)

In this photo provided by the Imperial Household Agency of Japan, Japan's Prince Hisahito speaks at his first press conference at the Imperial Palace Monday, March 3, 2025, in Tokyo. (Imperial Household Agency via AP)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo blocked a shot by LeBron James and stole the ball from him on consecutive possessions in the final minute, and the Milwaukee Bucks blew a fourth-quarter lead before rallying for a 105-101 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.

Kevin Porter Jr. scored 22 points, and he hit two free throws to break a tie after Antetokounmpo blocked a driving layup attempt by James with 39 seconds left.

Antetokounmpo then knocked the ball out of James' hands from behind with 2 seconds left, and Porter hit two more free throws to seal Milwaukee's fifth win in seven games — its first over a team with a winning record since Dec. 11. Antetokounmpo finished with 21 points in his lowest-scoring effort since returning from his right calf strain.

Luka Doncic had 24 points and nine assists on 8-of-25 shooting for the Lakers. He had his lowest-scoring performance since Christmas, and he fouled out on Porter's 3-point attempt with 16.2 seconds to play.

James had 26 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, but Antetokoumpo got the best of the top scorer in NBA history at crunch time. Los Angeles has lost six of 10.

Milwaukee surged to a double-digit lead in the first half even with Antetokounmpo on a minutes restriction in his injury return. Doncic scored 12 points in the third quarter but also committed four fouls in the period, including his fifth of the game.

Los Angeles abruptly erased its deficit by going on a 17-4 run to open the fourth, with James putting the Lakers ahead when he stole the ball from Antetokounmpo for a layup with 6:02 left. Milwaukee missed nine of its first 12 shots in the period, but Porter's layup tied it with two minutes left.

Lakers starters Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura remain sidelined by injury, but Hachimura (calf) might return early next week from his six-game absence, coach JJ Redick said.

Bucks: At Denver on Sunday.

Lakers: At Sacramento on Monday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart, left, tries to shoot as Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left, and Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. go after a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)